March Shopping ~ Week#1/#2 ~ Christmas with Martha and Betty Crocker

Best of Martha Stewart Living - Handmade Christmas, published in 1995. More of an arts and crafts book, there are however, recipes nestled among the whacked out homemade wreaths & swags, stockings, ornaments, wrapping paper and candles that Martha thinks normal people have the time and energy to make.

In the section titled Cookie Box, mingled among the many elaborate instructions for making boxes to hold cookies given as gifts, there are recipes for pecan sandies, truffles, lace cookies, shortbread, linzer, biscotti, sugar cookies and chocolate thumbprints.

The ornaments chapter offers several options for making homemade ornaments including a recipe for dough ornaments and instructions for constructing a homemade gingerbread house (recipe included) using royal glaze and icing - also homemade.

The gift section is filled with recipes for pickled fennel or okra, brandied peaches, nonpareils and panettone.

Betty Crocker's Best Christmas Cookbook, published in 1999. Filled with timesaving hints and tips on every page, the book is filled with recipes and ideas for the holiday season.

In Simple Sippers and Savory Nibbles, there are recipes for punch, margaritas, eggnog, cider, hot buttered rum and on the nibbles side ~ are dips, meatballs, bruschetta, brie, pinwheels, tartlets, plus a cheese Christmas tree made with cream cheese and covered in parsley. Merry Main Dishes delves into rib roast, tenderloin, stews, crown roast of pork, baked ham, leg of lamb, plus casseroles, roast turkey, Cornish hens, goose plus a few recipes for bisque and chili. Sensational Salads and Sides offers dishes made with pasta, spinach, couscous, wheat berry (again), fruit, potatoes, rice, sweet potatoes and since it's the holidays - a cranberry mold.

Fab Finales delivers yummy desserts ~ pies (pumpkin, mincemeat, pear and pecan), lots of pound cake variations, a yummy Fudge Truffle tart, gingerbread, fruit cakes - plus "regular" cakes, cheesecakes, mousse, tiramisu, a Christmas steamed pudding and an awesome sounding peanut brittle bread pudding. Holiday Breads has the usual recipes for for muffins, scones, coffee cakes, plus focaccia, biscuits, rolls and popovers. The holiday theme is highlighted in the recipes for eggnog bread, a garlic bread shaped wreath and St. Lucia Crown.

Sweet Shop Favorites offers sugar cookies, shortbread, spritz, snowballs, bonbons, gingersnaps, brownies, fudge, peppermint bark, toffee, divinity, plus two recipes I may try out: chocolate wine balls and maple nut brittle. Festive Family Fun  and Holiday Gifts and Decor are both about homemade gifts and treats with recipes for cookies, reindeer snack (similar to Chex mix), chocolate spoons, fondue, maple syrup, apple butter, sauces, caramels, curds, jams& jellies, chutney, mustard, herbed vinegars, a gingerbread village AND tree, plus a really cool Kumquat and Bay Leaf tree.